Travelling to Mull for the first time and
wondering what to expect? Then have a browse through some of the
Frequently Asked Questions to see if we can answer your query, if
you can't find an answer, then please do
email us and we'll do our best to help.
The questions we are frequently asked by folk from around the world who are
planning a visit to Mull are pretty much the same regardless of where
they are coming from; we have tried to answer them as simply and as
honestly as we can and we hope you find them useful and make your stay
on the island as pleasant and as enjoyable as possible.

If there are any
obvious questions that you think we have overlooked please
email and let us know so we can add them to the
page for the benefit of future visitors to the site and to our lovely
island.

Below are just some of the questions we are regularly asked - click on any of
them for their respective replies or scroll down the page to view them
all.
All Images courtesy of www.tomjoe.com

The Isle
of Mull is just one of a group of islands forming the Inner Hebrides off
the west (left) coast of Scotland – above Glasgow and to the left of
Oban! Once you’ve found it on the map, squint your eyes and tilt you
head slightly to the right at an angle of 12 degrees or so – Mull is the
island that looks like a miniature squashed version of the UK! Don’t
confuse the Isle of Mull with the Mull of Kintyre either – same west
coast but further south forming part of the mainland and it resembles
something entirely different too!! Also Sir Paul McCartney doesn’t live
on the Isle of Mull so don’t come visiting thinking you might spot a
Beatle or rock star or two – plenty of rocks and plenty of stars
but no rock stars I’m afraid!

We could bore you with statistics and
science here but we won’t – instead think of the County of Lincolnshire
on the east coast of England (between the Humber and the Wash) and
compress it a bit, shave off a couple of inches and you have the
approximate size of Mull. In relation to numbers of people living on
Mull – at the last census count less than 3,000 living permanently on
the island. There are in fact more sheep
than folk, and three times less folk today than there was over a century ago!

What you
really need to know about Mull is that it’s actually bigger than you might think.
Many visitors come off the ferry at Craignure from Oban and decide to
drive round the island via Tobermory before driving down to us at
Seaview in Fionnphort – it’s a great way of seeing the
island if you don’t mind driving but be aware it can take up to four hours or so
and much longer if you stop at places along the way. The views are great and the north
end is very different to the south (Ross of Mull). Back to top of page

Any way
you can really – it depends on where you are coming from and how far you
are travelling. Mull is very accessible even in the winter with regular
scheduled ferry crossings with Caledonian MacBrayne from Oban, Lochaline
and Kilchoan – check out their website on
www.calmac.co.uk
or the ferry timetables via the links on our home page.

The
important thing to remember
with the ferry crossing from Oban to Craignure is to book your vehicle on to the ferry with
Caledonian MacBrayne (especially during the summer months and holiday
weekends – reservations: 08000 665 000), give yourselves plenty of time
to arrive from wherever you are travelling and try to synchronise your
arrival & departure times if travelling by coach, train or plane with
the ferry sailings (Scotland may be a small country but it has great
scenery which can slow down the drive as well as many miles of twisting
roads around lochs and through glens). Turn up no later than 30 minutes
before the scheduled sailing time (the ferry waits for no man and you
may lose your place), and don’t make the mistake of trying to see
Scotland in a day – it just won’t work. Back to top of page

No, not
if you don’t want to. If you are arriving by Shanksey’s Pony
(on foot), or don’t
want the extra cost of the car on the ferry you can come across as a
foot passenger. There are regular buses (Bowman's Bus, Service 496) to Fionnphort right from the
ferry terminal at Craignure and these are usually scheduled to meet the
ferries – check out the bus timetables on
www.bowmanstours.co.uk.
The bus stops in Fionnphort at the ferry point to Iona and we are
literally a minute's walk from there. In fact Seaview is the closest B&B
to the ferry and bus stop. In the winter (end of October to March) buses
do not run on a Sunday - there is however a taxi service that you can
book to pick you up. Alternatively you may like to consider hiring a car
on Mull or even booking a taxi to meet you at the ferry - any of these
options are possible. Car hire is available from
Mull Car Hire,
MacKays Garage Tobermory or
Mull
Self Drive. Mull Taxi's
offer a pick up/island tour service. For detailed travel information, timetables and
directions click here.Back to top of page

The
majority of roads on Mull are single track except for approximately 10
miles between Craignure and Salen and
a shorter section between Salen and Tobermory. The road from Craignure to Fionnphort and Iona is a
single track road with regular passing places. These passing places are
marked with black and white poles or white diamonds.
Although it is only 37 miles to Fionnphort from Craignure and the road
is classed as an ‘A’ road, expect your journey to take longer than
average. This is not only because it is single track and there may be a
lot of traffic coming the other way but also because you may stop and
enjoy the views although it is inadvisable and dangerous to stop and
park in the passing places. If your reversing skills are rusty, we
recommend you get some practice in before you come - you will be doing
plenty of it once you arrive.

To us, the journey to a destination is part of the holiday and it can be
an adventure – many of our guests describe it as 'very different' and an
unforgettable experience! There’s no doubt that it can be, so we advise
our guests that the journey may take from 45 minutes to 80 minutes - we
suggest you give yourselves extra time to make the journey so you aren’t
rushing, especially if you are going back up the road to Craignure to
catch the ferry. The roads
all have tarmac surfaces but the conditions range from reasonable, to
not so reasonable.

Single
track driving requires a certain level of etiquette and patience. Follow
these simple guidelines for a safe and enjoyable journey:

·Always allow vehicles behind you to overtake at
designated passing places – it can be frustrating for local residents
(especially emergency service personnel and delivery vehicles) to
be stuck for miles behind slow moving visitors who can be completely unaware they
are behind and trying to pass.

·For oncoming and overtaking vehicles indicate that you
are going to stop at a passing place with your indicator on and allow
the other vehicle to either overtake or to continue driving through.
Always stop on the LEFT hand side (even if the passing place is
on the right) and allow the other vehicle through. You only stop in the
passing place if it is on your left – never cross the traffic and drive
into a passing place on the right; you are likely to cause an accident!

·Don’t stop and park in passing places to enjoy the views
– this is dangerous. There is a viewing point above the three lochs
going through Glen More where you can stop and enjoy the view. Eagles
and sea eagles can be seen from here.

·It is easier for on coming coaches, buses and delivery
vehicles if you can give way to them and stop in a passing place on your
left – this means they don’t have to negotiate driving a large vehicle
into a narrow passing place. By law you you must give way to buses and
coaches - it is unlawful for them to reverse!

·Driving on single track roads with passing places is not
a game of Blind Man’s Bluff or a question of pride and brinkmanship. If
you see on coming vehicles ahead, indicate left, pull in and give way,
don’t try and get to the next passing place before the on coming vehicle
reaches you – very often you will misjudge the speed and distance and
both vehicles will end up meeting in the middle. Someone will eventually
have to give in and reverse their car back to the passing place.
Please don't try and drive past another vehicle along the verge - this
is beginning to break the road up even more, causing lots of pot holes
and ruts.

·Traffic heading towards Craignure are very often on their
way to catch a ferry – don’t impede their journey by being proud and
awkward; it is always more courteous to allow on coming vehicles to
pass.

Livestock
and common grazing go hand in hand on Mull – sheep, Highland cows and
wild deer are all part of the scenery and they make driving on the
island a wee bit more interesting!

Think of
‘The Whimsical World of Thomas Joseph’ (www.tomjoe.com)
and you have the traffic conditions for the Isle of Mull! The sheep are
quite considerate – they are white (usually) and you can spot them
easily – they mooch around in flocks close to the road side and can very
often be found lying in the middle or edge of the road enjoying the
warmth from the tarmac. During spring and after lambing – watch out for
the lambs, they are more skittish and less use to moving traffic. At
night you can spot their white bottoms facing you or their eyes are green
reflecting back at you. When approaching sheep on the road, slow down
and gently edge your vehicle through them – they tend to let you pass
and wander back on the grassy verges. Even stubborn tups (Rams) will
give up trying to eyeball you after a while.

Highland
cows and other cattle are big gentle beasts – they hang around in herds
and you can often see them at the junction at Pennyghael doing point or
sentry duty! They are happy to amble along the road and will generally
let you through – again just slow down and pass through carefully. If
there are calves about take care because like the lambs
they can be frisky. Cows are more difficult to spot in the dark – take
care when driving at dusk and at night.

Deer are
more unpredictable. These wild animals are usually just passing through
from one side of the road to the other when you see them – they don’t
often graze at the road side. Deer are more likely to be seen from
autumn through to spring when the grazing in the hills is limited. Deer
at dusk and at night are a hazard – they roam in small groups and if you
see one crossing the road in front of you there is likely to be a second
and a third. Slow right down and if possible stop to allow the deer to
cross – they are nervous, jumpy and unpredictable.Back to top of page

Guests
always tell us they don’t come to Scotland for the weather, they come
because they want to – when the weather is good it’s viewed as a bonus.
You can check the weather here
For a 5 Day Weather Forecast click here....... This will give you a general 4-5 day forecast. What you need to
know and understand is that Mull and Fionnphort in particular, is on the
edge of the Gulf Stream. The weather in Fionnphort can be different to
the rest of Mull – we have half the rainfall of Oban, and much
less than Craignure. We are half way
between Fort William (the wettest place in the UK) and the island of
Tiree (15 miles out further west from Mull) which has the most
hours of recorded sunshine!! A bit of an anomaly as you can see –
generally we have mild and breezy weather on the south west coast with
quite a lot of sunshine. We rarely have snow (except in the Glens and on
the mountains) and although it can be chilly in the winter we don’t get
frost very often. However like most in things in life there are no
guarantees – it is always better to be prepared and we suggest you dress
in layers (all seasons) and having waterproof outer clothing is always
recommended. Back to top of page

Hmm, good
question. Sneaky little blighters – tiny little black insects that are
attracted to the carbon monoxide exhaled in the human breath! Fionnphort
is on the coast and therefore have considerably less midges as we
have few trees and generally the coastal breeze keeps them under
control. Midges are usually around from May through to September and
prefer warm, damp habitats especially where there are trees and lots of
undergrowth ad vegetation. For some unexplained reason they are
attracted to some folk more than others and those they fancy a nibble at
can react in different ways. Some folk don’t react; others like me can
react up to 24-36 hours later with a series of red bumps that can be
extremely itchy.

What can
you do about them? There are a number of insect repellents on the market
and several local stores will have ‘Midgey’ repellent on sale. The
latest invention is the ‘midgey magnet’ – a machine that imitates the
human breath by producing carbon monoxide to which the midges are
attracted. They are then caught in a bag in the machine and once full,
placed in a freezer where they die!

For me,
when midges are about (you will know this either from the weather
conditions or once you get bitten) it is best to avoid places with
trees and undergrowth, wear long sleeves and trousers, use your insect
repellent and cross your fingers! If you do get bitten I find that the
essential oil of Lavender is very effective as an anti-inflammatory and
reduces the urge to itch!!Back to top of page

Not every business will accept credit/debit cards
although here at Seaview we do accept most credit/debit cards (except
American Express) along with cash and UK cheques.
Most shops operate a cash-back
policy for a small fee and The Ferry Shop next door has an ATM cash
machine in the front foyer although it doesn't accept all international
cards. Therefore due to the limited number of cash-back
facilities on the island it is advisable to bring enough cash
with you to cover major purchases and emergencies particularly if you
are staying for some time.

The Clydesdale Bank has a branch in Tobermory Tel: (0345) 826818
along with a cash point. Mobile bank vans also travel around the island
- ask in B&B’s, Post Offices and local shops for times and stopping
places. Here in Fionnphort the mobile bank run by the Bank of Scotland is
usually down on a Wednesday afternoon. Oban has several branches of banks where you will be
able to obtain cash and other banking services.

Yes you can. There are only a few garages on the island - you can
buy petrol at Craignure, Tobermory, Salen and at Robin's Garage between
Bunessan and Fionnphort - look out for the Gleaner Oil sign. There aren't any
garages or filling stations through the Glen and it's 37 miles to
Fionnphort from Craignure, so either make sure you have enough petrol in
the car going on to the ferry to get you to Fionnphort, or fill up on
the mainland or at Craignure. Just remember though due to transportation
costs, the fuel on the
island is more expensive.

There are plenty of places on the Isle of Mull that we are happy to
recommend for you and we have our definite favourites from small cafes
and coffee shops, to fish & chips and fine dining. Further information about
places to eat on the Ross of Mull and Iona can be found on the
Attractions
page and we also serve
evening meals
at Seaview but not during the main season (Sept through to May only by
prior arrangement). We try our best to cater for special diets as will
most eating places but our location does mean there are some limitations
so advanced notice is always appreciated. I think it's fair to say that
you won't go hungry wherever you are and we will always try our best for
you.

The Ross of Mull & Iona is covered by the medical services of Dr. Astill and his practice staff based at Bunessan T: (01681)
700261. This is a busy rural practice with one permanent Doctor who has
a large area to cover. Surgeries both at Bunessan and Iona are open
access - appointments are not needed for the morning surgeries except on
Tuesdays but you may have to wait. Medical emergencies requiring
hospitalisation may mean medical evacuation by lifeboat to Oban or by
helicopter to Glasgow. Surgery times are as follows:
Monday: 9 - 12 noon
Tuesday: 9 - 12 noon (Appointments only)
Wednesday: 9 - 12 noon and 4.30 pm - 5.40 pm (Appointments only)
Thursday (Iona Surgery): 10.30 - 1.30 pm
Friday: 9 - 12 noon

The local dentist and pharmacy are in Tobermory (approx 60 miles away).
Dentist: (01688) 302105; Chemist: (01688) 302431. Back to top of page

There is a garage at Craignure which sells petrol
(gas). Remember
there are no garages or petrol stations through Glen More and the drive
from Craignure to Fionnphort is 37 miles - make sure you have sufficient
petrol in the car. The garage near Fionnphort (between Bunessan and
Fionnphort) is Robin's Garage (Gleaner) Tel: (01681) 700206 - sells
petrol, diesel and has a pump attendant called Sandy. Robin may also be
able to help with vehicle repairs if necessary.

For 'real' emergencies dial '999'. Please do not abuse this system -
the resources available to us are valuable and the distances and times
travelled are great.
Otherwise emergency services can be contacted by the following numbers:

This is a bit of a conundrum for all dog owners especially when faced
with such delightful, wide and open countryside. Visitors to the island
need to remember that most of the land around Fionnphort is common grazing ground for cattle and sheep. There aren't many enclosed fields and the animals
roam free and will often wander into the
village to graze on the land round and about. This means that dogs must
be kept under proper control and on a lead at all times, especially when
there are lambs and calves about.

The law is very specific about dogs being kept under control around
livestock and failure to do so can have serious consequences - not just
for the farmer and his livestock but for the dog and it's owners. The
basic rule is, if there are livestock in the area, keep your dog leashed
and under control. Equally important is to clear up after your dog - dog
fouling in public places is unlawful and it is unpleasant for both
people and other animals in the area.
For detailed further information, have a look at the
Outdoor
Access Code for Scotland.
Back to top of page

There are public loos around - generally you will find them in the
villages; at the ferry terminals in Fionnphort, Craignure, Fishnish and
Tobermory. On our travels around the island we have also found public loos
at Dervaig, Calgary Bay, Tobermory, on Iona, and Salen. But hey! this is
the countryside and the chances are there won't be any nearby when you
needone, so it's back to nature I'm afraid.All we can
suggest is you come prepared - loo roll in the car, baby wipes and
plastic bags.

Down here in Fionnphort, on the Ross of
Mull and Iona, O2 has excellent coverage and this is who we use. Vodaphone
is very patchy although a sporadic and unreliable signal can be found in
the odd spot or two and we are not aware of any signal from any of the
other mobile phone service providers for this end of the island.

If access to your mobile phone is really important whilst you are here
and you already have a PAYG phone, then it may be worth considering
purchasing an
O2sim card prior to your arrival.

The short answer is yes for Seaview but only by prior arrangement and
agreement and generally speaking only one dog at a time; and no for dogs
in The Bothy. Guests travelling with their dogs and staying at Seaview
are offered Erraid, the ground floor twin room because it has easy
access to the front door. We have two dogs of our own - Megan, a
chocolate Labrador born on Iona in 2007, and Lainie a black Labrador
born at Seaview in 2010 and daughter to Megan; as dog owners we fully
understand the difficulty trying to find accommodation where dogs are
welcome and so try to be as obliging and welcoming as we can. The usual
consideration by dog owners is expected - provide own bedding, towels
for drying, pick up after pooping outside etc and try and keep dogs off
the beds and furniture. Difficult we know at times as our own will try
every trick in the book to bag the best spot! We don't take dogs in The
Bothy because our own dogs have full access to the back garden. Return to top of
page

We do, but generally young
people aged 12 year and over who are old enough to sleep in their own
rooms for which the normal rate is charged. We don't have any family
rooms and we are unable to accommodate young families; we will however
happily provide you with the contact details of accommodation providers
in the area who are more suitable for families.